Selections from A Traveller’s Narrative written to illustrate the history of the Bāb

Summary

The Bābi leaders … prepared replies in accordance with their own beliefs … for example, they interpreted the sovereignty of the Qāʾim as spiritual sovereignty, and “conquests” as conquests of the cities of men's hearts, their proof for this being that Imām Hosayn, the Prince of Martyrs (may the life of all beings be sacrificed for his sake), suffered oppression and was conquered, although he was the true manifestation of the blessed verse “and that our hosts must surely conquer.” Despite this, he suffered grievous oppression and drained the cup of martyrdom. Yet even in resounding defeat, he was defeating the enemy at the head of the hosts of the concourse on high.

At all events, the Prime Minister, acting entirely on his own without consultation or permission, sent commands to all quarters to chastise and torture the Bābis. Magistrates and governors sought a pretext for meddling, officials sought a means of benefiting from the situation, and celebrated divines from pulpit tops incited mob attacks. The powers of church and state7 joined hands to eradicate and exterminate this community.

Since the Bāb was but beginning to lay the foundations when he was slain, this community was ignorant concerning its proper customs, conduct, morals and obligations. Their only foundation was love for the Bāb, and their ignorance led to disorder in some places. And when they encountered severe persecution, they defended themselves.

But after his return, Bahāʾuʾllāh made strenuous efforts in training, educating, refining, regulating, and improving the conditions of this community, so that in a short time all this disruption and mischief was extinguished, and the hearts attained the utmost peace and tranquillity. According to reports, it became clear and evident even to those in authority that the intentions, principles and ideas of this community were of spiritual matters and of the bonds between pure hearts; that their true and essential foundation was to reform the morals and improve the conduct of the human race. They had absolutely no attachment to the material world.